Advanced Anchor

from: Marc Werner

It is strategically very advantageous to have an advanced anchor. This is very important goal, when there is still contact. You should try to accomplish this goal as soon as possible. This is consistent with the concept to mobilize your checkers on the 24-point in the early stage of the game. To own an advanced anchor has several considerable advantages:

Your checkers are closer to home.

It is much harder for you opponent to build a potent prime to restrain these checkers.

As long as you keep your anchor in your opponents home board you always have a fine landing place for your men, in case you get hit and must enter from the bar.

You control the outfield, where the enemy checkers move to the home board, often you will get shots from your anchor.

To understand how importatnt it is to have an advanced anchor,
other conditions being equal, we will show some positions and the
winning chances. In all these positions the race is even or close
to even, every side has an inner point and your only
advantage is the advanced anchor.

Position 63, Category Anchor

Roll or Double?

Black vs White

Moneygame: Jacoby and Beaver

added at 1/12/2010 11:40 AM, from admin

Pipcount: 157(0) - 157(0)

Comment:Black has the 4-anchor and white is still on the ace point. With black on roll, he is a solid favorite to win the game.

Evaluation Level: XG Roller+

Winning Chances:

Player:

58.25%

42.35%

15.32%

0.58%

Opponent:

41.75%

33.78%

7.70%

0.27%

Cubeful Equities:

No Double:

+0.364

best

Double / Take:

+0.215

-0.149

Double / Drop:

+1.000

+0.636

Best Cube Action: No Double / Take

Cubeless Equities:

No Double:

+0.165

Double:

+0.498

Software: eXtreme Gammon Version: 1.11

Same position (board is turned around now, remember: all
positions here are shown with black on roll) but now black is on
roll, white is still the favorite.

Position 64, Category Anchor

Roll or Double?

Black vs White

Moneygame: Jacoby and Beaver

added at 1/12/2010 11:42 AM, from admin

Pipcount: 157(0) - 157(0)

Evaluation Level: XG Roller+

Winning Chances:

Player:

46.04%

37.69%

8.06%

0.29%

Opponent:

53.96%

40.73%

12.79%

0.44%

Cubeful Equities:

No Double:

-0.183

best

Double / Take:

-1.288

-1.105

Double / Drop:

+1.000

+1.183

Best Cube Action: No Double / Beaver

Cubeless Equities:

No Double:

-0.079

Double:

-0.260

Software: eXtreme Gammon Version: 1.11

Both sides have an inner point (the 4-point) and the race is
even. With black to roll he is more than a 60% favorite to win the
game!

Position 65, Category Anchor

Roll or Double?

Black vs White

Moneygame: Jacoby and Beaver

added at 1/12/2010 11:46 AM, from admin

Pipcount: 148(-3) - 151(+3)

Comment:this position illustrates the importance of the golden anchor.

Evaluation Level: XG Roller+

Winning Chances:

Player:

62.05%

44.84%

16.62%

0.59%

Opponent:

37.95%

31.56%

6.18%

0.21%

Cubeful Equities:

No Double:

+0.516

best

Double / Take:

+0.461

-0.055

Double / Drop:

+1.000

+0.484

Best Cube Action: No Double / Take

Cubeless Equities:

No Double:

+0.241

Double:

+0.716

Software: eXtreme Gammon Version: 1.11

The board is turned around now. Even with the other player to
roll your advanced anchor still leaves you as a solid favorite.

Position 489, Category Anchor

Roll or Double?

Black vs White

Moneygame: Jacoby and Beaver

added at 2/25/2010 3:51 PM, from admin

Pipcount: 151(+3) - 148(-3)

Evaluation Level: XG Roller+

Winning Chances:

Player:

42.00%

35.26%

6.51%

0.23%

Opponent:

58.00%

42.99%

14.55%

0.46%

Cubeful Equities:

No Double:

-0.352

best

Double / Take:

-1.856

-1.504

Double / Drop:

+1.000

+1.352

Best Cube Action: No Double / Beaver

Cubeless Equities:

No Double:

-0.160

Double:

-0.491

Software: eXtreme Gammon Version: 1.12

The next position show both sides having advanced anchors but
you have the better one

Again the race is nearly even and both sides have the 5-point.
With black on roll, black is a solid favorite.

Position 66, Category Anchor

Roll or Double?

Black vs White

Moneygame: Jacoby and Beaver

added at 1/12/2010 11:51 AM, from admin

Pipcount: 159(-1) - 160(+1)

Comment:Having the better anchor makes you a solid favorite.

Evaluation Level: XG Roller+

Winning Chances:

Player:

55.00%

39.27%

15.08%

0.65%

Opponent:

45.00%

34.93%

9.70%

0.37%

Cubeful Equities:

No Double:

+0.238

best

Double / Take:

+0.010

-0.228

Double / Drop:

+1.000

+0.762

Best Cube Action: No Double / Take

Cubeless Equities:

No Double:

+0.100

Double:

+0.316

Software: eXtreme Gammon Version: 1.11

Even with white to roll, black is a small favorite.

Position 490, Category Anchor

Roll or Double?

Black vs White

Moneygame: Jacoby and Beaver

added at 2/25/2010 3:57 PM, from admin

Pipcount: 160(+1) - 159(-1)

Evaluation Level: XG Roller+

Winning Chances:

Player:

49.55%

38.93%

10.23%

0.39%

Opponent:

50.45%

36.68%

13.24%

0.53%

Cubeful Equities:

No Double:

-0.047

best

Double / Take:

-0.891

-0.844

Double / Drop:

+1.000

+1.047

Best Cube Action: No Double / Beaver

Cubeless Equities:

No Double:

-0.009

Double:

-0.087

Software: eXtreme Gammon Version: 1.12

Golden anchor versus the 3-anchor. The race is nearly even and
both sides have the 4-point. With black on roll, he is a clear
favorite to win the game, having the added strategic advantage that
his inner point is before the enemy anchor. You are still a
favorite even if white is on roll.

Position 67, Category Anchor

Roll or Double?

Black vs White

Moneygame: Jacoby and Beaver

added at 1/12/2010 11:53 AM, from admin

Pipcount: 148(+1) - 147(-1)

Evaluation Level: XG Roller+

Winning Chances:

Player:

57.31%

47.50%

9.49%

0.32%

Opponent:

42.69%

36.50%

6.02%

0.17%

Cubeful Equities:

No Double:

+0.279

best

Double / Take:

+0.080

-0.198

Double / Drop:

+1.000

+0.721

Best Cube Action: No Double / Take

Cubeless Equities:

No Double:

+0.146

Double:

+0.369

Software: eXtreme Gammon Version: 1.11

With all this information it is obvious to see how favorable it
is to have an advanced anchor, or at least a better anchor than
your opponent.

Position 491, Category Anchor

Roll or Double?

Black vs White

Moneygame: Jacoby and Beaver

added at 2/25/2010 4:03 PM, from admin

Pipcount: 147(-1) - 148(+1)

Evaluation Level: XG Roller+

Winning Chances:

Player:

45.81%

39.31%

6.31%

0.19%

Opponent:

54.19%

44.47%

9.45%

0.27%

Cubeful Equities:

No Double:

-0.160

best

Double / Take:

-1.201

-1.041

Double / Drop:

+1.000

+1.160

Best Cube Action: No Double / Beaver

Cubeless Equities:

No Double:

-0.084

Double:

-0.234

Software: eXtreme Gammon Version: 1.12

All other conditions being equal, it is always to your advantage to own
the superior (more advanced) anchor. Try to accomplish this goal as soon as possible, even if you have to take some risks.